Making of a steam distilled essential oil is a traditional and the best technique till date that produces the best quality and highly therapeutic oil. Basil Essential Oil is derived from the leaves, stem and seeds of the Ocimum basilicum botanical, better known as the Basil herb. It emits a warm, sweet, freshly floral and crisply herbaceous scent that is further characterized as airy, vibrant & uplifting.
- In aromatherapy, Basil Essential Oil is reputed to stimulate, clarify, calm, fortify, energize and uplift the mind. It is also said to repel insects, eliminate odor-causing bacteria, soothe headaches, and relieve respiratory as well as digestive discomforts.
- When used on the skin, Basil Essential Oil is reputed to nourish, repair, balance, calm, smooth, exfoliate, and brighten the complexion.
- When used in hair, Basil Essential Oil cleanses, refreshes, hydrates, softens, and strengthens the strands.
- When used medicinally, Basil Essential Oil is reputed to ease minor skin irritations, cramps, joint pain, muscular aches, spasms, gout, flatulence, and exhaustion. It is also said to enhance immune function, protect against infection, reduce water retention, and stabilize irregular menstruation.
- When used internally, it adds flavor to cuisines like soups, salads, curries, poultry, and seafood and beverages like green tea & mocktails.
Application:
Topical use: Apply one to two drops to desired area. Dilute with cold-pressed oils to minimize any skin sensitivity.
Diffusion: Use three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice.
Internal use: Dilute one drop in about 100 ml food/ liquid.
Cooking with Essential Oils - Cooking with Essential oils is just not about adding flavor to the food but also bringing in health benefits and of course the convenience when fresh ingredients are not available. Steam distilled essential oils are best to consume. Steam distillation technique produces much lower yield of oil making a bottle of oil highly expensive in front of the flavoring synthetics available in the market. Essential oils are highly volatile & heat sensitive as cooking evaporates essential oil due to the steam so always add essential oil to the recipe after you have taken it off the heat to get the best flavour & nutrition with least drops. However for recipes that call for baking – add while making the batter only. Just add a few drops extra as heating tends to decrease the aroma & nutrition but some amount will be retained.
Precautions - A drop of essential oil is extracted from more than 100 long leaves of a plant therefore these are very powerful and concentrated oil and hence should always be used under proper guidance. Doses of essential oils vary for prevention and cure and also depend on the age, body constitution and health of the individual. Keep it out of reach of children. Avoid its neat contact with skin. Do not swallow without diluting it.